In major cities around the world, councils and governments are faced with the problem and possibilities of ‘volume’: the stacking and moving of more and more people and things above, across and below tiny, interlocking sites within booming central business districts. Our two speakers will reflect on the issues raised by volumetric urbanism through each of their published books published in 2017.

Vertical: The City from Satellites to Bunkers:Stephen Graham, University of Newcastle

A revolutionary reimagining of the cities we live in, the air above us, and what goes on in the earth beneath our feet. Starting at the edge of earth’s atmosphere and, in a series of riveting studies, descending through each layer, Graham explores the world of drones, the city from the viewpoint of an aerial bomber, the design of sidewalks and the hidden depths of underground bunkers.

Global Cities and Urban Theory: Donald McNeil, University of Western Sydney
Global Cities provides an innovative set of approaches to understanding the contemporary dynamics of some of the world’s major cities – London, San Francisco, Paris and Singapore. Working with concepts such as smart cities, volumetric urbanism, air conditioning and critical accounting McNeill illustrates the everyday agents and practices that place cities in the world.